United we stand, divided we fall. It's something I still believe in, now more than ever. The endless name-calling, hateful comments, and continuous stream of vitriol from both sides of the aisle needs to stop. It's time to remember that we should all be working towards the same goal: a brighter future for our country.

There's no doubt about it. This is a sensitive time for many of us. It seems like some people feel they are walking on eggshells, while just as many others go on with their divisive rhetoric.

Snowflake, redneck, bleeding heart, hillbilly. Just a few of the many derogatory names we've all seen thrown around and hurled at each other in recent years.

I'm all for defending our First Amendment rights, which includes the freedom of speech. Anyone has the right to log onto Facebook, share an offensive meme, comment on a post using derogatory language, and write about their political opinions, all before lunchtime.

But here's a thought: What if, before we spit out the first words that come to our minds, we thought about what those words really mean? How those words will affect those around us?

I don't pretend to be the highest, holiest authority on the subject, but I think we all could benefit from watching what we say, myself included.

Remember back in school, seeing posters with the THINK acronym? T = Is it true? H = Is it helpful? I = Is it inspiring? N = Is it necessary? K = Is it kind?

You want to know what I think? I think we don't do enough thinking these days.

So much of what I see online serves only one central purpose: to make people angry, feel bad about their beliefs, or start an argument.

There's nothing wrong with a good ol' fashioned debate, but when the discussion devolves into name-calling, it's no longer productive.

We don't always have to agree, but we should at least try to get along.

If I have learned anything from this long, painful election process, it's that almost nothing good is going to come from the comments section. Seriously, it's usually better for everyone if you just stay away.

And if you find yourself really needing to voice some thoughts, try to find a better, more constructive outlet than commenting on a random Facebook post.

Understanding that sometimes it may seem necessary to comment for the sake of educating a poor, misinformed soul, try to keep the sarcasm and condescending tone to a minimum.

If all else fails, think back to what we were begrudgingly told by Bambi's cotton-tailed friend, Thumper: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."